Canarsie residents protest waste station

Canarsie residents rallied Saturday against a proposal to build a medical waste transfer station in the neighborhood.

According to the proposal, CMW Industries would place a medical waste transfer site at the corner of Farragut Road and 100th Street. Residents received support from local officials, who passed legislation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate that would block the approval of this project.

Officials say the transfer station would be located across the street from a food manufacturer, in front of a train depot and dangerously close to residential streets.

?This is a case of environmental racism,? Councilman Charles Barron says. ?They look to neighborhoods they would have the least resistance from.?

The New York City Department of Buildings has declared that the operation of a waste transfer station at the chosen site would violate current zoning laws. Local officials say the legislation awaits Gov. David Paterson?s signature.

The Department of Environmental Conservation says the CMA Industries permit is still pending. CMA Industries did not comment.